POLAND — Five weeks after becoming owners of Wolf Cove Inn on Tripp Lake, Geoff and Nicole Skidmore are knee-deep into Maine and all it has to offer.

The couple have had a whirlwind few years — moving from corporate jobs in Los Angeles, to remote workers in Oregon to becoming part of the “Great Resignation.” But they have planted their lives in Maine, including purchasing a home in Falmouth and are expecting their first child in October.

Nicole Skidmore was born into a bed-and-breakfast family. Her grandparents owned Captain’s House Inn in Chatham, Massachusetts, from 1993-2006. “I used to go every summer and work… and I just fell in love with it,” she said. “Fell in love with baking the cookies, and teatime and the chocolates on the pillows.”

Owning and running an inn takes a lot of hard work to make it successful. Fortunately, the Skidmores say the previous owners — Roy and Sue Forsberg — positioned them well, with a well-maintained property, a year-round staff, a good customer base and views of Tripp Lake everywhere you look.

Geoff Skidmore grew up in the Napa Valley and worked in the hospitality industry before going to work for Disney Studios on the business side of the house, coordinating planning and managing theatrical and film campaigns.

The pandemic struck the Skidmores like many millions of Americans. They found themselves unhappy with corporate life and wanted a new direction. “We wanted to aspire for something greater in a natural setting area where we could just do this for a living, to provide an experience for people,” Geoff explained.

They partnered with Nicole Skidmore’s father and began what turned out to be a two-year journey to find a suitable property. “So, we partnered with him and went on this kind of vision quest to get a bed-and-breakfast,” Geoff Skidmore said. “We didn’t know what the heck we were doing.”

But where should they look? The West Coast is beautiful but overpriced. They hit the road and visited some 40 B&B’s from Asheville, North Carolina, to the Berkshires in Massachusetts, Boothbay Harbor and points in between. They observed and asked questions, learning the tricks of the trade as they went along, writing everything down in a journal.

They visited Wolf Cove Inn over the winter at the height of the arctic blast, getting their first taste of subfreezing temperatures. They struck a deal with the Forsbergs and closed on the inn June 7.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

The Wolf Cove Inn property has history dating back to the late 19th century that includes periods as an estate, a restaurant and an inn. It’s a property with immense old pines and 500 feet of lakefront and 12 rooms — 11 in the main inn and a cabin just steps away with water views from virtually every window.

For now, the Skidmores said they are in a go-slow assessment period as they get their feet wet and learn how things work here. But they already have a vision for some aspects of the business. “We have been going full steam into partnering with farms,” getting as much organic and sustainable food as possible, Nicole Skidmore said. “We’re still sorting out things.”

The inn offers what they call a “comfort breakfast” with your choice of savory or sweet. They also offer a pizza package in the evenings exclusively for guests that incudes pizza for two, salads, dessert of the day and water or soft drinks. Wine and beer are also available for an extra charge.

The Skidmores are already partnering with Daybreak Growers Alliance, which draws products from 50 Maine farms and includes certified organic produce, dairy products, meats, fruit and fermented foods. Yogurt parfaits are sourced from the Milkhouse Farm and Dairy in Monmouth.

Campfire Pottery, whose studio is in Westbrook, is creating all new ceramic tableware for the inn and will also create special branded mugs to sell in the gift shop.

“So, we want to be very Maine-centric with our partnerships as much as we can,” Geoff Skidmore said as he summed up their experiences so far. “Everyone is so willing to help each other.”

The couple are looking at other ways to collaborate with local guides and businesses to offer guests the kind of amenities and activities that are endemic and represent all four seasons in Maine.

Guests can expect some minor refreshes inside the inn, but no major changes are planned for now, with the exception of one, which has to remain secret for now.

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